Ini Edo Grateful for Career Longevity, Says Fans Still Celebrate Her Early Nollywood Films

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Veteran Nollywood actress Ini Edo has shared her thoughts on her remarkable journey in the movie industry, expressing gratitude for the support she continues to receive over two decades after her debut.

In a recent chat with Saturday Beats, the actress reflected on the lasting impact of her earlier roles and how fans still talk about her performances in classic Nollywood films from the early 2000s.

“It is very humbling and equally very troubling that many people are still referencing old Nollywood movies that I acted in,” she said. “I have done over 300 films, yet everybody seems to just be stuck on a movie from like 20 years ago. Those stories are still very much embedded in people’s minds way beyond what we’re doing today. That’s not to say that what we are doing today isn’t good enough.”

Ini Edo acknowledged the evolution of Nollywood, saying today’s productions are technically more advanced, but the emotional connection audiences have with older stories remains strong.

“It’s just to say that for some reason, real movie lovers are unable to let go of the memories of those days,” she added. “My challenge now is how to create things that can last for another 20 years in the minds of people.”

Touching on life in the spotlight, she emphasized the importance of self-awareness and discipline, especially when navigating public attention.

“I think that in everything we do, we have to apply some level of discipline. When one chooses this life, one should know that one can’t eat one’s cake and have it. You can’t be successful in the public eye and still control how people react when they see you. Some fans never imagined they would meet one in real life,” she stated.

Ini Edo also noted that public reactions can vary, but she makes an effort to appreciate genuine admiration from fans.

“So, when they do, sometimes the reactions are sweet, other times, not so pleasant. There are places you go and people act like they don’t even see you. So, when you come across people bold enough to appreciate you, I believe one should be receptive to that appreciation,” she said.

Now focused on creating more timeless content, the actress is hopeful that her future work will resonate just as powerfully as her past roles.

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